2019 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra

The Domenico Clerico 2019 Barolo Ginestra Ciabot Mentin (with 5,500 bottles made with fruit from vines planted in 1978) is a bit closed initially. This is a trait I found across a vintage that gives us good reason to bet on long bottle-aging potential. There is dark fruit and spice with licorice and grilled herb. Rusty mineral nuances also emerge slowly from the bouquet. This wine needs a double decant if consumed on the young side, but you're better off waiting. I came back to my open sample 24 hours later, and the wine was singing beautifully.

Monforte d’Alba. Youthful mid ruby. A stunning, lifted raspberry nose and – the most radical thing at this estate – no (discernible) new oak. Succulent, almost racy fruit with super-fine, clinging tannins. Very long, nervy and concentrated and with great purity of fruit. (WS)

A bit higher pitched compared to the Pajana, the 2019 Barolo Ginestra Ciabot Mentin is pure with anise spice, kirsch, and rocky earth. More linear than the Pajana, with equally if not more impressive length and finish, it is evenly paced, with notes of blood orange, ripe apricot, ripe berries, and candied roses. Outstanding and drinking well already, it easily has another two or more decades ahead.